Use the right weapon

ABut Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’ ” Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ” 

Luke 4:4‭-‬8 NLT

I can’t remember the last REAL fight I had. I can remember that I had one but I don’t remember what it was for or why it happen, but I do remember that I won. I do remember that I tried to tell the person to stop and to leave me alone but it didn’t work. He was threatening me and saying all this stuff about how he would hurt me and beat me up. I didn’t threaten him or talk a lot I just gave him the warning to stop. It became physical, it became violent, and it ended up being hurtful. Even though this fight I did have was physical, not every fight is with those hands. Jesus was led to the wilderness to prepare and meditate for what was to come. Wouldn’t you know it that in his place of meditation and peace and comfort he was interrupted by the devil.

HERE IT IS…

It may come a time where you feel depleted and the only thing you can do is get to your peaceful place. It may be a time where your minding your own business and you are interrupted. Not by a person’s taunts or by a person’s misconduct, not even by a physical altercation. Sometimes you will be presented with a time where spiritually your interrupted at your most vulnerable time. Jesus became hungry in these 40 days and was vulnerable. Then Satan tried it. This is where Jesus fought back, but not with fist or kicking, but with the word. Every attempt Jesus was not having to ball up his hand into fist and swing but he was able to fight with not his might and strength BUT the word of God. Fight with the right weapon. 

Whats YOUR name

When the baby was eight days old, they all came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. But Elizabeth said, “No! His name is John!” “What?” they exclaimed. “There is no one in all your family by that name.” So they used gestures to ask the baby’s father what he wanted to name him. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God. 

Luke 1:59‭-‬64 NLT

When John was born and Zechariah couldn’t talk the people that came to the house all looking at the baby, saying they’re congratulations to Elizabeth and cooing at the baby. Holding John and and kiss him and talking about how cute he was. And all the time Zechariah couldn’t talk. The only son he has and he can’t talk to him. Now what is supposed to be a question, turns into a assumption, a given, a command almost. Seeing as though this is Zechariah’s only child and son, he has to have someone carry his name on, right? He has to have someone to keep his name alive, right? I mean it’s only fitting since this is his only begotten son, the one who will make the way for the Lord to come. The one who jumped when Jesus was an embryo in Mary’s womb. This would be the best to have his name as the one to make the way for the Lord, right?

HERE IT IS…

They all wanted to name him after his father, but Zechariah knew different. As soon as he wrote down what his name will be he was able to speak. See you you can’t allow people just call you what they want or think you should be. You have to know for yourself who God has called you to be. Your name is who God said it is.
Your name is not defeated
Your name is not broke
Your name is not broken
Your name is not damaged
Your name is not alone
Your name is not fear
You are who God called you to be
Victorious
Winner
Loved
Renewed
Wonderfully made in his image. Stop answering to everything people called you when they don’t know who you are.

It’s time

At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Luke 1:41 NLT

It is so great to hear a person’s voice that you haven’t seen or heard from in a while. I know for me when I hear my brothers voice afyer not talking to him for a while I get super hype. When I hear my bros voice from Illinois or my bro Mario voice I get excited. These people mean so much to me that when I hear they’re  voices or see them it raises up something in me that I can not explain. The joy I get just to hear they’re voice is awesome. That joy and excitement comes from a place that is not always explainable. Even though I get excited when I see or hear those voices, it’s something about feeling God’s presence that take presidence over anything that goes on at that moment.

HERE IT IS…

Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant and Mary just saw the angel a couple of days ago. When Elizabeth HEARS Mary’s voice it was what was on the inside of her that got excited. Mary was just conceiving Jesus. And as soon as she got her presence and spoke John jumped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. So I ask you, what is inside of you that God has given you that leaps and jumps and moves when you get in his presence. Their are something’s inside of us that we need to give birth to that we try to keep inside. It’s when we get into the presence of God that he starts to stir it up. It’s in you, get ready to have contractions and breath and push.

Welcome back

Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way. 

Luke 4:14‭-‬15‭, ‬28‭-‬30 NLT

He came back to the place he was raised and taught the people. Jesus the son of God came back to his home town. After he was gone for years he was moved and compelled to come back home and fulfill the prophecy. When he came back and taught the scripture says that he was praised by everyone. He was loved given great joy as he taught in the synagogue. It was when he spoke and read the scripture that he was disliked. The emotion of his return changed dramatically.  It was when he was speaking of the prophecy and it being fulfilledthrough him that it all changed.

HERE IT IS…

Remember back to the time you were saved. Remember back to the time that you separated yourself from your old life and people and started to live as a changed and saved person. Think back to when you stopped drinking, smoking, running women, talking negatively, fighting. Think back to when you changed and came back to your old stomping ground. Think back about the reaction you recieved when you showed your face. For Christians  it’s not about where you were but where your going. For them it’s about where you were. Everyone is not going to be happy about the new you. Everyone won’t celebrate you when you resurface a new person. Thanks be unto God that even when you go back your able to leave without any issue. Even when they come to try and get you to be the old person God has covered you to withstand it. Everyone won’t be happy for you, but don’t stop.

Show them

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 

James 3:13‭-‬16 NLT

How do people know your faith? How are people able to distinguish between you being a Christian, and not being a Christian? I tell you the truth it’s not about what you wear, and who you are, and what you have, but it’s all about how you live. It’s about what you do through your life that sets you apart from the world.

HERE IT IS…

It’s about your ability to understand just who God is and has been to you that makes you different. Your life speaks volumes about you and your love for Christ. When you finally make the choice to do things differently in your life is what shows everyone that you have consciously made a decision in your life to make Christ the head of your life. Trust in God who created you and makes you who you are. Let’s show the world who we are.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere,  I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

Ephesians 1:15‭-‬21 NLT

https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.1.15-21.NLT

I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” 

Job 42:6 NLT
I have had to publicly and privately eat my words. I have had to try and take back some things that I have said about people. I have had the wrong idea about people all because of what someone else told me about that person. I have literally been on both sides of that coin. I have had to apologize to people, and they have had to apologize to me. I have had to eat my words on occasion and had to sit down in the mess that I created waiting for the dust to settle. Waiting for the fire to calm down, waiting for the issue to finally go away. Most of the time people are talking about stuff that they only have part or some of the story. Sometimes we get a piece of information and run with it.
HERE IT IS…
If Job took the advice of people and didn’t have a conversation with God on his own, his life would have turned out differently. It’s in the moments where we can’t go off the way other people feel about God. Or what they have had struggles with. It’s in those moment a where we still have to know who he is for yourself. Even when your friends may console you. Your family may help you, your spouse may be there but it’s when your able to come into his presence and hear his voice that you realize he has your beat interest at heart.

Know for yourself

Then Job replied to the Lord : “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. 

Job 42:1‭-‬2 NLT

Michael Jordan is my favorite basketball player of all time. Walter Payton is my choice for best running back of all time. This guy’s all had careers where it looked they were unstoppable. Games where they played and made defenders look like they should not be in the same league as them. They were great in they’re day. Here is the difference between the 2 for me. I heard about Walter Payton playing and doing these things, but Michael Jordan I literally seen it for myself. I watched him do these things. It’s one thing to hear about something great than to see it for yourself.

HERE IT IS…

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
Job 42:5 NLT

In this last book of job, he is responding to God’s challenge to him about who HE is, what HE can do and who can surpass Him. It’s always good to hear about what God is doing in others lives, bit it’s when God enters into your life, makes changes for the better and provides in ways that you couldn’t see is when you realize just how great he is. I know that God is big and majestic and all powerful. I know for myself that none can do for me what he has, but when I look back over my life and think things over I can truly know for myself that the thought I have of how good he is is just a small amount of of how good he truly is. Get close to God, know for yourself just how truly awesome he is for you. Don’t rely on others to tell you. See for yourself.

Who did it for you

Hear this message from the Lord , all you who tremble at his words: “Your own people hate you and throw you out for being loyal to my name. ‘Let the Lord be honored!’ they scoff. ‘Be joyful in him!’ But they will be put to shame. 

Isaiah 66:5 NLT
Today what are you joyful for? Today right now in this moment what has got you happy and excited? The scripture tells us to be happy in Him. There has been a lot of good things that has happen and has taken place in our life. What are you happy about? What joy do you have that has happen to you? Now how did you get it? Who gave it to you? Who brought it to you? Who gave you life, and movement, and breath in your body?
HERE IT IS…
We put so much emphasis on things and people and places we have been and sometimes we forget that the little things to us, are the the things that keep us going. People talk about us, hate on us, despise us, and even give you those remember when times. But who woke you up? Who started you on your way today? Who gave e you the means and right mind to do what you do? Give God all the praise because of who he is to you, not for what he has done for you. 

Change your vision

That’s why we live with such good cheer. You won’t see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don’t get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we’ll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. 

2 Corinthians 5:6‭-‬8 MSG

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

When I was 17 I made the decision to go into the military. I made the decision to fore go my collegite career I had in football or baseball and make a change in my life for the military. Instead of playing football or baseball for college I went to the military for the reason of what I couldn’t see. See I made that decision because it was not about me anymore it was about this little boy who came into the world that he didn’t ask to come to. I had to look at what was before me and not what happen to me, because greater was coming. We all have things that happen to us, that cause us to change course, to make us wonder why us. The truth is that our lives are not our own and God does things to drive us closer to him.

HERE IT IS…

You are greater than your circumstances. The text says that we live by faith and not by sight. Meaning that we can’t continue to look at what what happen to us and think woe is me. Instead we have to look past what we see and live for who God is.

For we live by believing and not by seeing.
2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT

In believing in who God is and seeing and getting to know who he is changes your optical focus from circumstance to Christ. I know its hard to to not look at the pain, the hurt, the financial struggle. But if God can take the focus off our wrong and send Christ to die for us so that we can have a right to salvation and eternity, why not change yours?